JP2008188153A - Liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the erroneous operation of a drain valve for discharging a residual beverage. <P>SOLUTION: The drain valve 31 for discharging liquid remaining inside a liquid path K is attached to the bottom part of the liquid path K including an inner container 2 and a pouring path 8 in the liquid container, and an operation part 38a in an operation lever 38 for opening and closing the drain valve 31 is covered with a perforated plate receiver 40 freely attachable and detachable to/from a mounting base 18 so as to mount a server S for receiving the poured liquid at the lower part of the exit of the pouring path 8. Since the operation lever 38 for opening and closing the drain valve 31 can not be operated unless the perforated plate receiver 40 is detached from the server mounting base 18, the drain valve 31 is not erroneously opened and the erroneous operation of the drain valve 31 is surely prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container, and more particularly, to a liquid container in which care such as drain discharge is ensured satisfactorily.

  In the case of a liquid container, for example, a liquid container configured to store a beverage such as extracted coffee and to be able to be poured out to an external server or the like, care for a beverage passage including an inner container for storing the beverage (That is, regular cleaning, etc.) is necessary. In this maintenance, cleaning is performed after all the beverage in the passage is discharged, and a drain valve for discharging the remaining beverage is required.

  By the way, the switching which switches the container main body provided with the inner container, the heating means which heats the said inner container, the electric pump which pumps up the inner solution of the said inner container, and the discharge channel which takes out the said inner solution to the exterior is carried out A valve, an extraction unit for extracting a beverage such as coffee, an inner lid provided above the inner container, and a pumping pipe for pumping the inner solution in the inner container, By providing the extraction unit and the pumping pipe, the pumped inner solution circulates through the extraction valve from the pumping pipe to the switching valve, the extraction unit, and the inner container, thereby facilitating beverages such as coffee. It has been proposed that it can be extracted easily and can maintain its original taste such as coffee even after a long period of time, further reduce power consumption during heat insulation, and can be easily carried ( Patent reference 1).

JP-A-2005-319060.

  However, in the case of the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a drain valve is not provided, it is difficult to ensure care.

  In order to solve the above problems, when a drain valve is provided, it is necessary to prevent an erroneous operation of the drain valve (for example, an erroneous operation of opening the drain valve at the time of beverage extraction or beverage extraction).

  This invention is made | formed in view of said point, and it aims at enabling it to prevent the misoperation of the drain valve for residual drink discharge | emission.

  In the present invention, as a first means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a container body provided with an inner container for storing a liquid, an electric pump for pumping the liquid stored in the inner container, and the inner container In a liquid container comprising a discharge passage for discharging the liquid to the outside via the electric pump, and remaining in the liquid passage at the lowest portion of the liquid passage including the inner container and the discharge passage. A drain valve for discharging the liquid to be discharged is provided, and an operation part of the operation lever for opening and closing the drain valve is mounted on the server for receiving the liquid to be dispensed below the outlet of the dispensing passage. Thus, the structure is such that it is covered with an eye plate receiver that is detachable from the mounting table.

  By configuring as described above, it becomes possible to discharge residual liquid (that is, drain) remaining in the liquid passage including the inner container and the discharge passage by opening the drain valve. It can be done reliably. In addition, since the operation lever for opening and closing the drain valve cannot be operated unless the eye tray receiver is removed from the server mounting table, there is no possibility of accidentally opening the drain valve. That is, erroneous operation of the drain valve can be reliably prevented.

  In the present invention, as a second means for solving the above-mentioned problem, in the liquid container provided with the above-mentioned first means, the operation part of the operation lever is engaged only with the eyepiece receptacle when the operation lever is closed. An engagement recess can be formed, and in such a configuration, the operation lever can be mounted on the server mounting table only when the operation portion of the operation lever is in the closed operation state. When the liquid passage including the dispensing passage is used (that is, at the time of liquid extraction and liquid dispensing), the drain valve is always maintained in the closed state.

  In the present invention, as a third means for solving the above-described problem, in the liquid container provided with the first or second means, the liquid level in the inner container is set in the dispensing passage. A liquid amount display tube for displaying is provided in a vertical posture, and the inner container is disposed between a connection passage portion connected to a lower end portion of the liquid amount display tube and a connection passage portion connected to a discharge port of the electric pump. A pipe connection member attached to a holder fixed to the bottom surface of the pipe can also be interposed. In such a configuration, when the liquid amount display tube is replaced, the pipe connection member is connected. Since the connecting passage portion on the liquid level display tube side and the connecting passage portion on the electric pump side can be separated, the maintenance can be performed easily and reliably.

According to the first means of the present invention, a container body having an inner container for storing a liquid, an electric pump for pumping the liquid stored in the inner container, and a liquid in the inner container for the electric pump A liquid container including a discharge passage that is discharged to the outside through the liquid container, in order to discharge the liquid remaining in the liquid passage to the lowest part of the liquid passage including the inner container and the discharge passage. In addition to the drain valve, the operation portion of the operation lever that opens and closes the drain valve is placed below the outlet of the extraction passage so as to place a server for receiving the liquid to be discharged. Since it is configured to be covered with a detachable eye tray receiver, it becomes possible to discharge residual liquid (that is, drain) remaining in the liquid passage including the inner container and the discharge passage by opening the drain valve. , In addition to being able to insert easily and reliably, the operation lever that opens and closes the drain valve cannot be operated unless the pan support is removed from the server mounting base. In the liquid container having the first means, as in the second means of the present invention, the eye plate can be reliably prevented from erroneous operation of the drain valve. The receiving recess may be formed with an engaging recess that engages only when the operating portion of the operating lever is in the closed operation state. In such a configuration, the operating portion of the operating lever is only in the closed operation state. When the liquid passage including the inner container and the extraction passage is used (that is, at the time of liquid extraction and liquid Note: The time out), be sure to drain valve will be maintained in the closed state.

  As in the third means of the present invention, in the liquid container provided with the first or second means, a liquid amount display tube for displaying the liquid level of the liquid in the inner container is vertically provided in the dispensing passage. In addition to being provided in a posture, it was fixed to the bottom surface of the inner container between a connection passage portion connected to the lower end portion of the liquid amount display tube and a connection passage portion connected to the discharge port of the electric pump. A pipe connection member attached to the holder can also be provided. In such a configuration, when the liquid amount display tube is replaced, the liquid amount display tube side connected via the pipe connection member is used. Since the connection passage portion and the connection passage portion on the electric pump side can be separated, care can be performed easily and reliably.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid container includes a container body 1 having an inner container 2 for storing a liquid, an electric heater 3 acting as a heating means for heating the inner container 2, and the inner container. 2, an electric pump 4 for pumping liquid stored in the cartridge 2, a cartridge 5 acting as a beverage extraction unit for extracting beverages such as coffee, and a pumping passage for supplying liquid pumped to the cartridge 5 by the electric pump 4 6, an extraction liquid recirculation passage 7 for recirculating the extraction liquid from the cartridge 5 to the inner container 2, a pouring passage 8 for pouring the liquid in the inner container 2 to the outside, and the pouring passage 8 A switching valve 9 for switching the flow of the liquid to the pumping passage 6, and hot water supplied to the lower part of the cartridge 5 through the pumping passage 6 soaks the cartridge 5 from below and extracts the extract from above. Return Is configured to reflux to the container 2 via the passage 7, heated hot water from the kettle in the container 2, thereby performing further thermal insulation of the extracted beverage.

  The container body 1 includes a synthetic resin annular shoulder member 10 for locking the upper end of a bottomed cylindrical inner container 2 made of sheet metal, and a synthetic resin made of synthetic resin formed by joining the shoulder member 10 to the upper end. A lid 13 that covers the upper end opening of the inner container 2 so as to be openable and closable is connected to one side of the shoulder member 10 via a hinge mechanism 12 so as to be openable and closable. Has been. Reference numeral 14 denotes a lock mechanism that keeps the lid 13 closed, and reference numeral 15 denotes a steam discharge passage.

  A beverage extraction unit U is provided on one side of the container body 1 so as to be adjacent to the container body 1, and the beverage extraction unit U is on the side opposite to the hinge mechanism in the shoulder member 10, and An amount of liquid formed integrally with a cartridge support portion 16 that supports the cartridge 5 and is formed along one side of the container body 1 and is formed by a straight pipe portion of the pumping passage 6. It comprises a passage component 17 in which the display tube 6a is disposed, and a mounting table 18 on which a server S that receives the beverage to be dispensed is provided in a horizontal direction from the lower end of the passage component 17. It has a U shape. As will be described in detail later, an eye plate receiver 40 on which an eye plate 39 on which the server S is placed is detachably attached is detachably attached to the mounting table 18 (see FIG. 8). In FIG. 8, reference numeral 41 denotes a liquid amount display unit, and 42 denotes an operation panel unit.

  The cartridge 5 acting as the beverage extraction unit is a vertically long conical container for storing, for example, an extraction bag G containing coffee powder, and inlets 19 and 19 for introducing hot water at the lower end thereof.・ ・ Is formed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 5 has an upper reflux passage 7a which is a part of the extract reflux passage 7 in a state where the upper end opening of the cartridge 5 and the upper end opening of the upper reflux passage 7a communicate with each other. It is integrally formed with. Further, a flange portion 5 a is formed integrally with the upper end opening edge of the cartridge 5, and a cylindrical cartridge cover 20 that covers the outside of the cartridge 5 is engaged with the flange portion 5 a. Reference numeral 21 is a lid that covers the upper end opening of the cartridge 5, and 22 is a seal packing that seals the lid 21 and the opening edge of the cartridge 5. The lid 21 is communicated with the inside and outside of the lid 21 at appropriate positions. Air holes 23 are formed (see FIG. 4). In this way, the upper part of the cartridge 5 (that is, the space between the lid 21) is in a vacuum state at the end of the extraction circulation, and the extract does not return to the inner container 2 via the extract return path 7. However, the formation of the air hole 23 eliminates the generation of negative pressure in the upper portion of the cartridge 5 (that is, the space between the lid 21), and the above-described problem occurs. No longer.

  The cartridge support portion 16 has a circular shape in plan view, and a cartridge receiver 24 for fitting and fixing the lower end portion of the cartridge 5 is formed at the center thereof. Reference numeral 25 denotes a seal packing for ensuring a sealing property between the upper end opening of the cartridge receiver 24 and the cartridge 5. A female screw portion 27 for screwing a male screw portion 26 provided at the lower end of the cartridge 5 is provided at the center of the inner bottom of the cartridge receiver 24. And in the state where the cartridge 5 is fitted and fixed to the cartridge receiver 24, the lower end of the upper reflux passage 7a is connected to the upper end of the lower reflux passage 7b connected to the inner container 2 side, The lower end of the cartridge cover 20 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral edge of the cartridge support portion 16.

  The bottom of the cartridge support 16 is connected to the upper end of the pumping passage 6 that passes from the bottom of the inner container 2 through the electric pump 4 and through the passage component 17.

  Then, in the middle of the pumping passage 6 (that is, the lower portion of the cartridge support portion 16), the liquid in the inner container 2 is poured out to the outside, and the liquid to the pumping passage 6 is discharged. A switching valve 9 for switching the flow is interposed. In the present embodiment, the switching valve 9 is configured such that the pumping passage 6 side is normally open, while the pouring passage 8 side is normally closed, and the pouring valve 9 is provided only when the beverage is dispensed. The outlet passage 8 side is open. That is, the pouring passage 8 is branched from the middle of the pumping passage 6, and the switching valve 9 is constituted by an on-off valve that opens and closes the pouring passage 8 side in the branching portion. In short, in the present embodiment, the passage from the electric pump 4 to the switching valve 9 in the pumping passage 6 also acts as the discharge passage 8. The outlet of the extraction passage 8 (that is, the outlet) is directed downward so as to face the server S. Reference numeral 28 is a valve rod of the switching valve 9, 29 is an operation lever for opening and closing the switching valve 9, and 30 is a spring for biasing the valve rod 28 in the valve closing direction.

  With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the hot water in the inner container 2 is introduced into the cartridge 5 through the pumping passage 6 by the drive of the electric pump 4, and the coffee in the cartridge 5 And the extract is refluxed into the inner container 2 through the extract reflux path 7, and the inner container 2, the pumping path 6, the extract reflux path 7 and the extraction path are extracted. The liquid passage K is constituted by 8. By repeating such circulation, the inner solution in the inner container 2 is converted into coffee. And if the drive of the electric pump 4 is stopped when the inner solution in the inner container 2 becomes coffee of a predetermined concentration, the inner solution in the inner container 2 is held in a heat-retaining state. And when pouring out coffee, if the electric pump 4 is driven after operating the switching valve 9 so that the pouring passage 8 side is opened, the inner solution in the inner container 2 is poured out. It will be poured out to the server S through the passage 8. In this case, the electric pump 4 functions as a pumping means for supplying hot water in the inner container 2 into the cartridge 5 through the pumping passage 6 and drinks (for example, coffee) stored in the inner container 2. It will also act as a pouring means for pouring out to the outside.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the lower end of the lower reflux passage 7b in the extract reflux passage 7 is connected to the side surface of the inner container 2, but in the side surface of the inner container 2 slightly below the full water level, A concave portion 2a is formed which is stepped and formed in one paragraph from another portion, and the lower end of the lower reflux passage 7b is connected to the concave portion 2a. In this way, the refluxed extract will flow down along the inner surface of the inner container 2 and will not foam in the inner container 2, and the lower end of the lower reflux passage 7b, the inner container 2 and Connection. Can be done easily.

  A drain valve 31 for discharging the liquid remaining in the liquid passage K is attached to the lowest portion of the liquid passage K (for example, near the lower end of the liquid amount display tube 6a).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the drain valve 31 includes a valve main body 33 connected to the pumping passage 6 via a connection pipe 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 14), and the valve main body 33. A valve body 35 that opens and closes the valve seat 34, a spring 36 that biases the valve body 35 in the valve closing direction, a cam 37 that opens and closes the valve body 35, and a position where the cam 37 is opened (see FIG. 6). ) And an operation lever 38 that is rotationally displaced to a valve closing position (see FIG. 7). Reference numeral 51 denotes a drain discharge port formed in the valve body 33.

  When the drain valve 31 is in the closed state (see FIG. 7), the operation portion 38a of the operation lever 38 has a gap D formed at the back of the mounting table 18 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, the operation portion 38 a of the operation lever 38 is in a closed operation state, as viewed from the one end side (that is, the right end) on the mounting table 18. An engaging recess 43 that only engages is formed. That is, the operation portion 38a of the operation lever 38 that opens and closes the drain valve 31 is covered with the eye plate receiver 40 that is detachable from the server mounting table 18, and the operation portion 38a of the operation lever 38 is covered. Can be mounted on the mounting table 18 only when it faces the mounting table 18 from one end side (that is, the right end) of the gap D formed in the back of the mounting table 18. .

  On the other hand, the operation portion 38a of the operation lever 38 is in the valve open state (see FIG. 6), as shown in FIG. 12, the other end side (that is, the left end) of the gap D formed at the back of the mounting table 18. ) And is placed on the back end side 40a of the eye plate receiver 40 so as to protrude from the recess 44 shallower than the engagement recess 43 and the lip of the recess 44, as shown in FIG. The small protrusion 45 is formed. That is, when the operation portion 38a of the operation lever 38 for opening and closing the drain valve 31 is located at the left end of the gap D, the operation portion 38a gets in the way and moves the eye plate receiver 40 to the mounting table 18. It is a structure that cannot be installed. In addition, in the present embodiment, the small protrusion 45 projecting on the back end side 40a of the eye plate receiver 40 interferes with the operation portion 38a. In the state of being located at the left end (in other words, when the drain valve 31 is in the open state), it is possible to reliably refuse the mounting of the eye plate receiver 40 on the mounting table 18. That is, erroneous operation of the drain valve 31 can be reliably prevented.

  By the way, in the case of this Embodiment, since it has the structure which stores the extracted coffee etc. in the inner container 2, and pours coffee etc. via the extraction | pouring channel | path 8 as needed, it is used for a long period of time. If so, it may be necessary to replace the extraction passage 8 including the pumping passage 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the connection passage portion 46 connected to the lower end portion of the liquid amount display pipe 6 a in the pumping passage 6 that also functions as a discharge passage, and the discharge port of the electric pump 4. Between the connection passage portion 47 connected to 4a, a synthetic resin pipe connection member 49 attached to a holder 48 fixed to the bottom surface of the inner container 2 is interposed. The pipe connecting member 49 includes a fixing portion 49a fixed with a screw 50 to a lower end portion of a mounting portion 48a suspended from an edge of the sheet metal holder 48, and a protruding portion in the opposite direction from the fixing portion 49a. The connecting pipes 49b and 49b are provided. And the connection channel | path parts 46 and 47 are connected in the communication state by inserting and inserting the said connection channel | path parts 46 and 47 in the said connection pipes 49b and 49b, respectively. The connection passage portions 46 and 47 are made of a synthetic resin having elasticity so that the connection passage portions 46 and 47 can be easily attached to and detached from the connection pipes 49b and 49b. In this way, when the liquid amount display tube 6a and the like are replaced, the connection passage portion 46 on the liquid amount display tube 6a side connected via the pipe connection member 49 and the connection passage portion 47 on the electric pump 4 side. Can be easily and reliably maintained.

  In addition, as for the capability of the said electric pump 4, it is desirable to comprise so that the direction at the time of drink extraction may become larger than the time at the time of drink extraction. If it does in this way, it will become possible to give a change to the taste of coffee in a circulation extraction process, and it can respond well to a difference in required quantity at the time of circulation extraction and coffee hot water supply. That is, the capacity of the electric pump 4 can be made to correspond to the required discharge amount (that is, the discharge amount required at the time of extraction or dispensing), and the operation of the electric pump 4 can be optimally controlled.

  As a method of changing the flow rate of the electric pump 4, a method of controlling the rotational speed by PWM, a method of using a multi-speed switching pump, or the like can be employed.

  Further, the cartridge 5 can be provided with a lock lever. In this way, the cartridge 5 can be easily removed.

  In addition, a limit switch that is turned ON with the cartridge 5 attached can be connected in series with the electric pump 4, and in this way, the electric pump 4 cannot be driven when the cartridge 5 is not attached. Become.

  In consideration of care, it is desirable to use a magnet plug for power supply on the inner container 2 side.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (that is, a liquid container for coffee extraction), and it is needless to say that the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the container main body in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention, and the outer body of a drink extraction unit. It is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cartridge part in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the principal part of the lid | cover of the cartridge in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic path | route figure which shows the circulation path | route of the inner solution in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded vertical sectional view which shows the valve opening state of the drain valve in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged vertical sectional view which shows the valve closing state of the drain valve in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the drink extraction unit of the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the principal part of the drink extraction unit in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the principal part of the drink extraction unit of the state which closed the drain valve in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention, and removed the eye plate receptacle. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the principal part of the drink extraction unit of the state which closed the drain valve in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention, and removed the eye plate receptacle. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the principal part of the drink extraction unit of the state which opened the drain valve in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention, and removed the eyepiece receptacle. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the tray receiver of the beverage extraction unit in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention from the back side. It is the perspective view which looked at the structure of the pumping path in the liquid container concerning embodiment of this invention from the bottom.

Explanation of symbols

1 is a container body 2 is an internal solution 4 is an electric pump 4a is a discharge port 6 is a pumping passage 6a is a liquid level display tube 8 is a discharge passage 18 is a mounting table 31 is a drain valve 38 is an operation lever 38a is an operation unit 39 is an eye Plate 40 is eye plate receiver 40a is the rear end side 43 is an engagement recess 46, 47 is a connection passage portion 48 is a holder 49 is a pipe connection member K is a liquid passage S is a server

Claims (3)

A container main body having an inner container for storing liquid, an electric pump for pumping up the liquid stored in the inner container, and an extraction passage for discharging the liquid in the inner container to the outside via the electric pump And a drain valve for discharging the liquid remaining in the liquid passage is attached to the lowest portion of the liquid passage including the inner container and the discharge passage, and An operation part of the operation lever for opening and closing the drain valve is a detachable plate holder that is detachable from the mounting table for mounting a server for receiving the liquid to be poured below the outlet of the pouring passage. A liquid container characterized by being configured to be covered with. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein an engagement concave portion that engages only with the operation portion of the operation lever in a closed operation state is formed in the eye plate receptacle. The discharge passage is provided with a liquid amount display tube for displaying the liquid level of the liquid in the inner container in a vertical posture, and a connection passage portion connected to a lower end portion of the liquid amount display tube and the electric pump. The pipe connection member attached to the holder fixed with respect to the bottom face of the said inner container was interposed between the connection channel | path parts connected to a discharge outlet, either of Claim 1 and 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. A liquid container according to claim 1.

Images